Australia takes lead in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province

AUSTRALIA'S defence force will take over the leadership role in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says.
This will help the transition process to a full withdrawal of Australian troops by 2014, he announced in Canberra today.

The national security committee of cabinet approved Australia taking over leadership this week.

"The circumstances in Oruzgan are very different from what they were back in June 2010," Mr Smith said, referring to the withdrawal of the Netherlands force and its leadership role being assumed by the United States.

"Australia taking on the leadership now ... puts us in a better position to manage the transition process."